FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lisa Roberts, Florida Wildflower Foundation
               407-353-6164; executivedirector@floridawildflowerfoundation.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Naomi Nichols, MainStreet DeLand: 386-738-0649

• Even the bees are abuzz about the Florida Wildflower and Garden Festival, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 27, on downtown DeLand's West Indiana Avenue. Here's why:
  A full slate of wildflower and gardening experts will speak on a variety of topics at the historic Athens Theatre, 124 Florida Ave. Among the speakers will be the always popular Tom MacCubbin, a former University of Florida/IFAS extension agent and the radio and TV host of "Better Lawns and Gardens," as well as Dr. Walter Taylor, aka "Mr. Florida Wildflower," a UCF professor emeritus of biology who literally wrote the books on Florida wildflowers. Author Ginny Stibolt will talk about sustainable gardening, and Chere Clark, owner of Clark Butterfly Farm, will pass along butterfly gardening tips. Authors will sign and sell books after their talks at the Florida Wildflower Foundation booth.
• Organizations such as the Florida Wildflower Foundation will offer information on native wildflowers and plants.
• Vendors will sell wildflowers and plants, garden utensils and more.
• Festival attendees will cast their votes for their favorite painting in the Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival Art Contest. The winning artist will receive a prize of $200; second place, $100; and third-place, $50.
• Field trips include tours of Longleaf Pine Preserve, a Putnam County wildflower farm and Stetson University's native plant garden, plus a wildflower photography workshop. Pre-registration is required; call Volusia County extension office at 386-822-5778.
• Plus, there will be crafts for kids and a butterfly release at 4 p.m.!

After the festival, West Indiana Avenue will be taken over by the free Peace, Love and Wildflowers Concert from 6-9 p.m., hosted by Bike Florida and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. The Groovers & Shakers will provide tunes for dancing, and costume contests to find the Best Hippie Dude and Best Hippie Chick will be held. "Love beads" and Peace, Love and Wildflowers T-shirts will be sold - proceeds will support native wildflower research, planting and education.

The festival is being sponsored by MainStreet DeLand, the City of Deltona, the Florida Wildflower Foundation, River of Lakes Heritage Corridor Scenic Highway, the Museum of Florida Art, University of Florida IFAS Extension and DeLand Garden Club.
For details on the free events, visit www.floridawildflowerfestival.com or http://floridawildflowerfoundation.org/2010wildflower-festival.html or call 386-738-0649.

Florida’s native wildflowers shun affects of recent cold

 Record-breaking cold weather has devastated landscapes statewide. Yet those who have Florida’s native wildflowers in their landscapes are in luck.

“Florida’s own wildflowers are native ecotypes, which are adapted to the state’s environmental conditions – including the cold weather we get during winter blasts,” says Dr. Jeff Norcini of Tallahassee, a Florida Wildflower Foundation wildflower expert.

“They may freeze solid at night during these arctic blasts, but more often than not they look fine when they thaw as the weather warms up above freezing. This is true even for small seedlings that people would think would be the most sensitive to frosts and freezes."

Wildflowers most tolerant of subfreezing temperatures are those in the ground. Florida native wildflowers growing in containers – especially small containers – might not fare as well when temperatures dip into the low 20s or teens and remain below freezing for many hours.

Protect containerized wildflowers by bringing them indoors for the night or into a garage. If plants must remain outside, put them in a location that is sheltered, like a porch, and cover them with a blanket or some other type of fabric. Plastic provides less insulation and freeze damage could result wherever the plastic is in contact with the foliage.

To help increase frost and freeze tolerance of wildflowers and other landscape plants, avoid fertilizing plants late in the fall. Fertilizer can stimulate new growth that will be more susceptible to cold.

To interview Dr. Norcini about the cold hardiness of native wildflowers in Florida’s landscapes, call 850-491-0910.

For more information on native wildflowers, visit the Florida Wildflower Foundation Web site, www.floridawildflowerfoundation.org. For information on native plants, visit the Association of Florida Native Nurseries Web site, www.afnn.org.

Gadsden, Wakulla counties lead the way

in preserving Florida’s roadside wildflowers

 
Jan. 11, 2010 – Recognizing the economic and ecological benefits of Florida’s wildflowers, Gadsden and Wakulla counties have cleared the way for their conservation and preservation on roadsides.

The Gadsden County commission recently adopted a resolution to preserve and conserve wildflowers by altering roadside management practices and reducing mowing. The resolution also recognizes the cultural significance of wildflowers, which will be celebrated in 2013 – the 500^th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s naming of La Florida, “land of flowers.”

Gadsden County is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to begin a pilot project on U.S. Highway 90, State Road 12 and County Road 267, which will be managed to produce more wildflowers.

A year ago, FDOT planted wildflowers around oak trees on S.R. 12, which is part of the county’s North Florida Arts Trail. “We just had wonderful wildflowers. People were stopping and photographing them,” said Gadsden County Commissioner Douglas Croley. That success left the county wanting more. “This new maintenance project is a low-cost way to promote Florida’s natural beauty.”

Trust Backed by Transparency

The Florida Wildflower Foundation is well known to our donors and constituents as a trustworthy nonprofit doing important work. Now, we are proud to be recognized by the Community Foundation of Central Florida as one of the most transparent organizations in the region.

We have received Reviewed Status in the Foundation's knowledge base. Send this link to your friends to introduce them to the work we're doing and create an opportunity for them to make end-of-year gifts. You'll be asked to establish a login, and then you'll be able to see our portrait by entering our organization's name in the Find Nonprofits search field. To search the knowledge base or share it with others, visit www.mycfcf.org.

Nov. 24, 2009

Florida Wildflower Foundation donates $100,000 for research
UF endowment will support vital exploration of native Florida wildflowers

The Florida Wildflower Foundation (FWF), Maitland, recently donated $100,000 to the Gary Henry Endowment for the Study of Florida Native Wildflowers at the University of Florida/IFAS. The donation marks the organization.s third $100,000 donation since the fund was established in 2007.

The endowment is made possible by the $15 donation made with the purchase of each State Wildflower license tag. "This is the only endowment supporting the study of Florida native wildflowers," said FWF Board Chair Jeff Caster. "It assures that each individual investment in the State Wildflower license plate will pay lasting dividends."

Florida's native wildflowers contribute to the state's beauty and environmental health while creating the sense of place that is La Florida, "land of flowers."

"As we near 2013 - the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon's naming of our state for its flowers. communities statewide are starting to realize the economic potential of wildflowers as 'green tourism', "said FWF executive director Lisa Roberts. "The endowment will supports research into such things as seed germination and propagation methods that are essential to the success of wildflower plantings."

The Foundation uses funds collected through the State Wildflower license tag for native wildflower research, education and planting projects statewide. For more information on the its work, contact Lisa Roberts at 407-353-6164 or visit the FWF Web site, www.floridawildflowerfoundation.org, or blog, www.floridawildflowerfoundation.blogspot.com.

Nov. 15, 2009
Contact: Lisa Roberts, Florida Wildflower Foundation   executivedirector@floridawildflowerfoundation.org   407-353-6164

 This year the Florida Wildflower Foundation completed spring, summer and fall surveys of naturally occurring wildflowers along the five-county St. Johns to the Sea Loop trail (Putnam, Volusia, Brevard, Flagler and St. Johns counties), which will soon become the state’s first Wildflower Trail.

In 2010, the Foundation plans to survey other wildflower-profuse areas in the Panhandle and in North, Central and South Florida in 2010. The surveys will identify showy areas of native wildflowers in order to document species and suggest management practices. This research also will help us promote Florida’s native wildflowers as economic and intrinsic community assets.

First, though, we need assistance to find wildflower-profuse sites throughout the state. Here’s how you can help:

1. Send the approximate locations of any showy stands of roadside or trailside (paved bike or foot path) native wildflowers you’ve seen in Florida during spring, summer and/or fall.

2. Include the scientific name of the plant species if you know it (the common name is fine). If you don’t know it, describe the flowering plants’ characteristics (i.e., color, height, growth habit, etc.).

3. Include the road’s name, as well as a nearby intersection or another landmark that will help us locate the site.

4. Include the region (as defined by the geographic areas outlined below) and the city and/or county in which the site occurs.

5. Mention the approximate date of the sighting. If the date is unknown, please include the season.

6. Describe the habitat in general terms (i.e., wet ditch, sand dune, pine forest, etc.).

7. If you know of public lands (state, national, city and county parks; water management district holdings, etc.) that have great native wildflower displays, please share their names, locations, species seen and the dates of blooming.

8. If your garden or civic club has planted roadside or trailside native wildflowers, please send the planting’s location and species list.

9. Submit digital photos of your sighting if you have them. 

Information should be emailed to wildflower.research@gmail.com by Dec. 1.

Geographic areas by county

Panhandle: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla, Leon, Jefferson.

North Florida: Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Baker, Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Clay, Marion, Alachua, Levy, Bradford, Union, Gilchrist, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Taylor.

Central Florida: Citrus, Sumter, Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando, Sumter, Citrus, Manatee, Hardee, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Indian River, De Soto, Sarasota.

Download as a pdf

August 11, 2009

Contact: Lisa Roberts, Executive Director, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland, FL

407-353-6164, executivedirector@floridawildflowerfoundation.org

The Florida Wildflower Foundation is requesting proposals for an independent contractor who will assist the executive director in achieving the Foundation's goals in the areas of research, education and planting. Deadline for submittals: 5 p.m. Aug. 14. Download PDF

June 6, 2009 

Florida Wildflower Foundation completes survey along

St. Johns River to the Sea Loop trail

Native wildflower experts Jeff Norcini and Gil Nelson have completed a comprehensive survey of spring wildflowers along Florida’s 260-mile St. Johns River to the Sea Loop cycling trail. The Florida Wildflower Foundation, which sponsored the survey, hopes to establish the route as the state’s first wildflower trail in celebration of the 500^th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s naming of our state La Florida, “Land of Flowers.”

“The idea is to turn the Loop into a corridor of wildflowers in spring, summer and fall to make it a real celebration of wildflowers by 2013,” said Terry Zinn, a wildflower grower and Foundation board member. “The survey is critical to establishing the status of native wildflowers on this scenic loop and also to identifying areas lacking wildflowers. The Foundation hopes to augment natural stands of wildflowers through proper management. It also plans to plant wildflowers on parts of the trail.”

The Loop winds through some of the most wildflower-abundant areas of Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Brevard counties. It presently consists of about 40 miles of paved and unpaved bike paths, with the remainder on roadways. Plans call for it to be completed as a bike trail by 2013.

“We documented almost 20 showy native wildflower sites, most of which were naturally occurring,” Norcini said. “One discovery was a site on U.S. Highway A1A in St. Johns County, where we found a particularly wide diversity of natural wildflowers.” Upon notification from Norcini, the Florida Department of Transportation designated it a wildflower site and will work with him to develop a management plan.

The Loop was ridden this fall by cyclists who joined organizer Bike Florida (www.bikeflorida.org) for a weeklong inaugural tour. A fall Loop ride also is planned. To view a video of the first organized cycling event along the route, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=TifNXpp0YBQ&feature=channel_page.

May 5, 2009

Contact: Lisa Roberts, Florida Wildflower Foundation
               407-353-6164; executivedirector@floridawildflowerfoundation.org

National Wildflower Week May 3-10 celebrates our country’s native flowers, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Thanks to winter showers, Florida’s wildflowers are putting on a spring show, with blooms of phlox, coreopsis, blanketflower, dune sunflower and more spreading sunshine along highways, trails and rivers.

Here are five ways to celebrate Florida’s wildflowers this week:

• Trade your license tag for the State Wildflower plate. The $15 donation made with your purchase supports wildflower planting, research and education across Florida. You don’t have to wait for your plate to expire – click here to purchase the tag online.
• Plant a wildflower. Many nurseries now offer Florida natives, such as blanketflower. To find a native nursery near your home, visit www.afnn.org.
• Take a drive. Many roadsides are sporting great wildflower displays. Some recent hot spots include:
• State Road 44 between DeLand and Eustis
• S.R. 42 between Paisley and Altoona
• U.S. 17 north of DeLeon Springs
• Florida’s Turnpike at the Okahumpka Service Plaza
• S.R. 100 west of Interstate 95
• U.S. 441 between Ocala and Gainesville
• U.S. 441 west of I-75
• S.R. A1A between Ormond Beach and St. Augustine.
• Go for a hike to enjoy wildflowers in their natural habitats. For a list of Florida state parks, see www.floridastateparks.org.
• Say yes to wildflowers by supporting the not-for-profit Florida Wildflower Foundation and its work. To make a donation or to join as a member, visit www.floridawildflowerfoundation.org.

Contact: Lisa Roberts, Florida Wildflower Foundation
    407-353-6164; executivedirector@floridawildflowerfoundation.org

MAITLAND – The Florida Wildflower Foundation (FWF) this week donated $100,000 to the Gary Henry Endowment for the Study of Florida Native Wildflowers at the University of Florida.

The endowment, which eventually will support a full-time position at the university for native species research, was established by the Foundation in 2007. It honors FWF board member Gary Henry, who was a driving force behind the establishment of the State Wildflower license tag in 2000.

The endowment is made possible by the $15 donation made with the purchase of each tag, said Foundation Chair Anne Mackay. “We have many individuals to thank for choosing the Florida State Wildflower license tag. Because of their generosity, we can pursue research that will help our Florida seed and plant growers to discover best practices in the production of Florida ecotypes.”

Florida native ecotypes play a key role in the success of wildflower plantings in the state. “Because the species have adapted to Florida’s weather and soil conditions, they are easier to grow and sustain than many exotic plant species,” said Lisa Roberts, FWF executive director.

The Foundation uses funds collected through the State Wildflower tag to conduct native wildflower research, education and planting projects statewide. In 2007, it granted more than $395,000 for initiatives such as wildflower demonstration gardens, roadside plantings and educational publications.

For more information on the Foundation’s work, contact Lisa Roberts at 407-353-6164 or visit our Web site, www.floridawildflowerfoundation.org, or blog, www.floridawildflowerfoundation.blogspot.com.

May 1, 2008